Accessible Wales’ new clients are Minty Fresh!

On January 13, 2017 / Access, Cllient News, Front Page, News

Gentle Dental Practice in Aberdare with Dr Parul Sood and Principal Consultant Richard Jones

We are pleased to announce that we are working with Gentle Dental Practice and Maendy Place Dental Practice to improve their accessibility.

These RCT-based dental practices approached us as part of an access improvement scheme through Cwm Taf University Health Board.

Dental practices often face challenges when trying to provide the most accessible service to patients. These challenges include levels and layouts of older buildings including difficult front access and challenging toilet facilities.

Maendy Dental Practice with Practice Practice Manager Deborah James with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Accessible Wales is working with both practices to highlight access issues and improve them, resulting in the best possible access standard for patients with a range of disabilities

If you work for a dental practice in the Cwm Taf University Health Board area and would like to take advantage of the grant funding available, contact Alison Green.

If you would like more information on the access improvement services we offer then please visit our Access Services page.

Making Play Areas Accessible

On October 7, 2016 / Access, Front Page, News

Mia Thorne with Vikki Howells AM and friends at the Play Area Launch

As a disability consultancy company we aim to enhance accessibility around Wales and Wednesday saw us mark the launch of a new accessible play area in Cilfynydd.

Mia officially opening the park

The inaccessibility of the play area was brought to our attention by Mia Thorne, an inspirational young lady who has a desire to help highlight the inaccessibility that people with disabilities face. Mia wants to make play areas, housing and education accessible for people with varying disabilities.

Mia and friends with Vikki Howells, Cllr Barrie Morgan, Cllr Ann Crimmings and myself (Richard Jones)

I am really pleased with the end result of this play area; it’s excellent and very accessible. This project highlights the importance of joint working, it is a collaboration between ourselves, Mia, officers from Rhondda Cynon Taff council, Vikki Howells AM and councillors Barrie Morgan and Ann Crimmings.

: Mia and friends on the bucket swing

: Children playing on the wheelchair accessible roundabout

In this day and age it is vitally important to strive towards an inclusive society and people with disabilities are able to use the park with comfort and ease. With such a positive example of what can be done to help empower people with disabilities we should be encouraging people to use these facilities and not abuse them. It is important to ensure that these play areas are cared for, Councillor Barrie Morgan says the following:

“If we are investing in our community it is important for the community to invest too.”

I would like to congratulate Rhondda Cynon Taff council on taking accessibility seriously and ensuring that children with disabilities can play too.

Mia and friends on the slide with Vikki Howells, Cllr Barrie Morgan, Cllr Ann Crimmings and myself (Richard Jones)

Two Access Reviews Completed

On September 12, 2016 / Access, Cllient News, Front Page, News

Two Access Reviews Completed

Public Health Wales and Aberdare Community School reviews before presentation

Last week Accessible Wales handed in two Access Reviews, one for Rhondda Cynon Taff on Aberdare Community School and the second for Public Health Wales on their new offices in Capital Quarter 2, Cardiff.

These two jobs represent the two opposite ends of the work we carry out as part of our Access Consultancy Service.

Aberdare Community School

Firstly was a review of the new Community School, a school designed to be fully accessible. This building was already open and our review involved looking at access from a pupil’s perspective.

Public Health Wales new office

The second piece of work was reviewing the access to a new building. Previous clients Public Health Wales were moving offices into a new building and commissioned us to look at the accessibility before any of the furniture was put in place. This is always good practice as it can save on alterations once the building is finished. While these are not always costly they can have an impact on the way a building is used.

Both pieces of work were a pleasure to undertake, both buildings have the potential to be beacons in relation to access.

If you would like to know more about the accessibility of your building please get in touch. All our access services can be tailored to any building, whether it’s a one room shop, hospital, listed building or six story new building we cater for all.

Some of the varied clients who have benefited from our access consultancy service

For more information visit our Access Consultancy page, or contact us.

Or just call us now

Working With Public Health Wales

On August 1, 2016 / Access, Front Page, News

Richard Jones outside Capital Quarter 2, Public Health Wales Office

We are proud today to have been access reviewing Capital Quarter 2 building in Cardiff for Public Health Wales. The building is a blank canvas, with no furniture in. Public Health Wales and their designers have put an exceptional amount of work in making the building accessible, and we are very impressed that we’ve been asked to consult on the access at such an early stage.

Temple of Peace a building that was occupied by Public Health Wales

In 2015 Accessible Wales consulted for Public Health Wales on access to the Temple of Peace. The Temple of Peace is 70 – 75 years old, and is a grade two listed building. This means that there can be difficulties when making physical alterations regarding access improvement. The building is used for external events such as weddings and filming by television companies.

Capital Quarter 2, Public Health Wales Office

If you would like more about about our Access Consultancy service visit the page, or you can get in touch by visiting our Contact Page. Our access consultancy service has worked with small one roomed shops, new buildings and listed buildings, we can tailor our service to meet your needs.

Working With Aberdare Community School

On May 12, 2016 / Access, Front Page, News

Principal Consultant Richard Jones outside Aberdare Community School

Accessible Wales is pleased to say that Principal Consultant Richard Jones met with Aberdare Community School’s Headteacher Sue Davies and Rhondda Cynon Taff Education Authority’s Esther Thomas to discuss the access for people with disabilities at the school.

Discussions took place as Accessible Wales have been asked to study the access in and around the school. Principal Consultant Richard Jones was taken on a tour of the school and cannot express enough how impressed he was with what was on offer in the school regarding facilities, curriculum and staff attitude.

The school is a new building, however, in the past it has often been the case that what is accessible on paper isn’t necessarily accessible in practice. Rhondda Cynon Taff are taking the proactive step to ensure that they have a working understanding of the schools accessibility, and for that they should be commended.

Principal Consultant Richard says:

Access isn’t always about ramps and steps, approximately 8% of people with disabilities use wheelchairs. We strive to help our clients improve access for people with all abilities. It is important to remember that making access changes does not always cost vasts sums of money, sometimes something as little as moving a chair or a table can make a huge difference.

All our access reviews are written from the viewpoint of a service user, led by Principal Consultant Richard Jones we not only have a theoretical knowledge of access issues but also a practical knowledge of day-to-day issues.

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